Curry family’s foundation unveils multi-purpose bus, fully equipped with basketball hoop, TVs, and more
Stephen and Ayesha Curry launched the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation in 2019 and it has been a highly successful organization thus far. The charity has lived up to the three verbs in its name by delivering over 17 million meals to underprivileged children, providing books to students who need help improving their reading level and offering opportunities for exercise that kids can enjoy.
While the Currys seem pleased with the foundation’s work up to this point, they want to keep growing it. They want to reach even more young people and give children even more resources. This desire is the reason behind the company’s newest initiative.
That initiative is the Eat. Learn. Play. Bus, an elaborate multicolored double-decker bus that covers all three of the charity’s elements. The bus has been officially rolled out and is making its first appearances, including one on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at the East Oakland Youth Development Center that Steph enthusiastically promoted on social media.
“This idea came basically from me wanting to find a way to eradicate food deserts within the Oakland area,” Ayesha said. “At first, the idea was around, ‘How can we find locations where people can come and pick up fresh produce and other things for their families?’”
The Currys collaborated with a food truck company to develop the food-related side of the bus. In addition to produce, the vehicle offers meals and grocery items that can be distributed to families in need.
However, the idea quickly expanded to include options for the “Learn” and “Play” sides of the foundation as well. On the opposite side of the bus from the food truck features a library that will pass out books to kids. The foundation will work with several literacy-based organizations to give the library a selection of books that are meaningful and culturally relevant.
“Let’s get together, give this model a try and see if we can create some excitement around reading,” Ayesha said of her goals for the project. “If we can all join together and try to fix the issue together and turn these numbers around, then I think we’re doing something right.”
Finally, the bus will encourage physical activity thanks to a basketball hoop on the exterior.
“I know a guy who plays basketball,” Ayesha joked. “So we added a basketball hoop for the ‘Play’ pillar [and] it turned into this bigger-than-life idea.”
The bus’ many features means that it can be used for a variety of purposes. In addition to obvious uses such as food and book distribution events, the Currys are planning to organize author readings, cooking demonstrations and sports and health clinics. The bus also has multiple television screens and a sound system, and the second deck can seat 35 people. The foundation hopes to take advantage of this by hosting entertainment experiences.
“What we are doing is an amazing case study of the power of a cohesive team of talented people that have hearts of gold that can do amazing things,” Steph said. “We know we’re blessed to work together, but we know the success comes from the team and the leadership that we have.”
Currently, the foundation almost exclusively serves Oakland, but the people involved seem to have the drive to expand it much further. The new bus and its related facets could be a key part of taking that next step.